The Fairfax Christian School has a broad spectrum of families in our school from many backgrounds and religions. We always want an environment where everyone feels safe, respected, and can thrive.

Our school has both staff and students who would likely have religious exemptions to the COVID vaccine. If the State Board of Health enacts this petitioner's request to require vaccines without religious exemptions, some of our teachers would not be allowed to teach in our building. Furthermore, some students would not be permitted to attend in-person classes at the Fairfax Christian School or any school in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The Fairfax Christian School has followed the highest standards to stop the spread of COVID-19 and has not had any classroom outbreaks. We were open for essential personnel at the request of the Virginia Department of Social Services in the spring of 2020 and have remained open throughout the pandemic without sending any classes to quarantine. We require health and fever screening, continue to maintain our six-foot social distance, circulate fresh air into our building, and enhance our cleaning, which has proven to keep our staff and students safe. Masks are being worn as mandated but are considered secondary to other mitigation procedures.

Though many of our staff and families are willing to receive vaccines, removing the religious exemption takes away the religious liberty of our families and violates the 1964 Civil Rights Act for those who are sincerely opposed to the vaccine with no data to prove they are putting anyone at risk while on our campus.

I implore you to please respect our faculty's and families' choice for their health and well-being. Please do not mandate vaccines for private school faculty and students. Please have easy access to vaccines for families who want their children vaccinated and maintain the dignity of those who have health concerns and religious exemptions.

Thank you.

Jo Thoburn
President and CEO
The Fairfax Christian School